Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-04
Open.pr the Resehstag.
lBy glo-Amorican cablo to tho Dispa

by Anglo-Amorican cable 70 tho Dispatch.I
BERLIN, March 3.-The new German
Reichstag WAS opened to-day. The
Fmperor's speech was read from the
throne. In It he says he is gratified at
the benevolent disposition the Pope had
shown towards the empire. The foreign
policy of the empire is continually
directed to the maintenance of peace
with ell the. Powers, and especially with
Germany's neighbors. The foreign re-
lations of the Government are the same
as when the last Reichstag was opened.
If the present Reichstag, without hesi-
Triton or divisions, give unanimous ex-
preston to resolve that the nation
will put forth its full strength in full
psnoply, now and Mt all times, against
any attack upon our frontiers, such
resolution, even before carried out, will
materially strengthen the guarantees OF
peace and remove the doubts which the
late parliamentary debates may have
inspired. The Emperor feels assured
that the Reichstag, by its resolutions,
will give the Federal governments a
national policy on safe basis, and de
rives from this conviction the confident
hope that God will bless his efforts TO
preserve the peace and security OF Ger
many.
At the first sitting of the new Reich
stag General Won Moltke occupied the
chair as senior member, and appointed
provisional secretaries. On the names
of the Deputies being called 252 men,
hers responded, constituting quorum.
Herr Windthorst protested against
the election of president before
the second ballots were concluded.
Minister Won Boetticher replied,
repelling as uniustifable any attack in
tended by protest upon the summoning
of the Reichstag to-day. He said the
Government, on the contrary, deserved
thanks for expediting the opening in
order to pass the budget without delay.
Moreover, any such criticism was nm
encroachment upon the rights OF the
Emperor, because when his Majesty
summoned the Reichstag the members
were bound to appear.
Herr Richster admitted that reasons
of expediency favored an early meeting
of the Reichstag, but, he said, there was
a legal question Mt ssue-sixty electoral
districts being still unrepresented.
Herr Won Bennigsen maintained
that neither the law nor the
Constitution had been in any way
violated. He said exceptional cir
cumstances under which the Reich
stag had been summonedmust be patent
10 any one who had heard the speech
from the throne or followed the de-
velopment of the European situation.
1t was certainly desirable that posi-
ton similar to the present one should
not recur. The Government was not
to blame. IT was rather deserving OF
thanks. Windthorst, rising again, said
he could not concur in these views, and
must maintain his protest.
Kardoff, Bennigsen, and REGISTER con-
tinued the debate. Herr Richster
finally declared that, as regards the i'm
mediate business before the House, the
second ballots were of no consequence
whatever. II later on it should be
found that prejudice had been caused
by the premature summoning OF the
Reichstag it would always be possible
to raise q question.
Won Moltke thereupon fixed the cleo
ton of president and vice-presidents
for tomorrow, and the House adj
jouTned.